GO-AHEAD Chepstow Rugby club is making a major effort to promote youth girls' rugby in the area as well as fostering mini and junior touch-rugby teams.
"At the moment youngsters play mixed rugby to the age of 13 then the girls often have to stop because they haven't got other girls' teams to play," explained club secretary Ray Taylor.
"What we want to do is get the girls from all over Monmouth, South Wales, Gloucestershire and Bristol and North Somerset together to form teams. Because Chepstow is central we should be able to do this.
"I have been contacting all the clubs and most have one or two girls juniors, and this will help them all to get together."
He said his club was also trying to tackle other problems standing in the way of keen youngsters of both sexes.
"We have found that a lot of youngsters come along for a try and then they find they don't like the physical contact aspect of the game, so we are coaching them for touch-rugby games."
He is planning a touch rugby tournament on Thursday September 30 – the same day that the Rugby World Cup ball will be coming to the club on its tour of Britain. The event involves children from nine or ten local schools.
"The ball will be travelling down the Wye valley from Monmouth and it goes to Tescos first and then to the Rugby Club.
"I hope to make sure that all the boys and girls taking part in the tournament can handle it."
Ray said the club held training sessions for youngsters on Friday evenings and Sundays. Anyone who wants details should contact him on 01291 620326.